Academic conferences can be a bit of a mixed bag. There’s the focus (does it have one), the speakers and, perhaps most importantly, the coffee. Well DMU, and in particular IQ Hunter, excelled themselves with the Jaws Symposium. By focusing on one film it ensured that the papers were relevant and that each panel made sense in itself, as well as for the wider day. It’s difficult, and unfair, to pick out specific speakers but I will mention that both key notes (Murray Pomerance and Nigel Morris) were very good and that a whole host of new ideas were thrown about – including some excellent myth busting about the film. Yes it’s important – but not always for the reasons we’re told in the text books. The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the Skype chat with Carl Gottlieb who gave some great background on the film and laid to rest a few more lingering myths, chiefly the idea that John Milius wrote the Indianapolis speech (he didn’t – it was a combination of Gottlieb, Howard Sackler and Quint himself, Robert Shaw). He also, graciously, answered my query about whether being on the opposite sea-board to Hollywood allowed the film-makers an extra freedom (and the ability to get away with all the problems the production is famous for) – the simple answer was yes.

We heard about Jaws’ place in cinema history, the epiphenomena surrounding the film, links to childhood and sexuality, ideas on the masochistic process of cinema and much more. Also lunch was good. And it’s always great to hear Peter Kramer’s laugh. See you in another 40.

In the grand desire to return education in England to pre 1950s state Ofqual have suggested that A-Level Film Studies will be gone in two years. Help make a difference by signing this e-petition on the HM government website, http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/65977.

I will be delivering a paper as part of the Crime panel at the upcoming conference between 12 – 14 July. The title is, “Fascist fantasies and sado-masochistic wet dreams”: The Narrative Image and Critical Reception of the 1970s Vigilante Thriller. The work covers the disparity between the narrative image of the films and the critical reaction and goes on to make links to the modality of the violence in the films. The films in question are Straw Dogs, The French Connection, Dirty Harry, Death Wish and Taxi Driver. Hit the jump for the conference info, http://www.thelondonfilmandmediaconference.com/